Your movement feels steadier, more supported, as if your body has a quiet partner helping you take each step.
For people living with multiple sclerosis, where movement can become unpredictable or exhausting, that sense of support can make a meaningful difference.
Exoskeletons are wearable devices designed to assist movement and they are beginning to appear in rehabilitation settings, offering guided, repeated motion that may be difficult to achieve alone. However, their impact may go beyond simply helping someone stand or walk. Researchers are now exploring whether this kind of assisted movement can also help the brain strengthen or relearn patterns of movement over time.
Exoskeletons are not a cure for multiple sclerosis. However, early research suggests they may offer a new way to practise movement, support rehabilitation, build confidence and help people engage in physical activity that might otherwise feel out of reach.
Although this is still an emerging area of research, with studies to date involving relatively small numbers of people living with MS, the findings have been consistent – showing that exoskeletons and robotic aids can drive meaningful improvements across a range of outcomes.
These devices work by providing targeted mechanical assistance and repetitive, task-specific training, which can help reinforce more efficient movement patterns, build strength, and promote neuroplasticity over time. Interestingly, it has been found that these benefits are found in both physical and psychological outcomes.
By supporting movement and rehabilitation in people living with MS, both lower- and upper-limb exoskeletons have been shown to improve physical outcomes, including grip strength, dexterity, mobility, walking speed and endurance, while also helping to reduce fatigue.
In terms of psychological outcomes, use of these devices has been shown to improve confidence in mobility among people living with MS. This is an important factor given that fear of falling can significantly affect day-to-day life and independence. It is therefore not surprising that studies have also reported improvements in quality of life, along with emerging evidence suggesting positive effects on mental health, including potential reductions in depressive symptoms.
Recent research from Australia has shown that people living with neurological conditions, including MS, are highly enthusiastic about the potential of these technologies and believe they could have a meaningful impact on their daily lives. However, several barriers still limit their use in rehabilitation settings – most notably cost, accessibility, limited awareness and challenges around device design.
Addressing these issues will require further research and development to better understand which types of exoskeletons are most effective, how they should be implemented, and how to ensure they are accessible to those who could benefit most.
Encouragingly, a number of companies based in Auckland and across New Zealand are actively working in this space. We will continue to monitor developments closely and share relevant updates with our community as new insights and innovations emerge.
MS Auckland does not conduct any research activities ourselves, but we do closely follow developments. Here are some of the sources of information that we find useful and reliable.
